MAGNOLIA has zoomed to an unscathed start in the season-ending tourney. The Hotshots’ secret? The right combination of young guns and veteran players.
For coach Chito Victolero, his charges’ 3-0 mark this early in the PBA Philippine Cup was a result of not just their rising stars like Zavier Lucero, Jerom Lastimosa, and Peter Alfaro stepping up, but battle-scarred cagers in Mark Barroca, Paul Lee, Ian Sangalang, and Calvin Abueva providing the perfect complement.
“Our youth and the combination of the veterans, they were a big factor for us,” Victolero said. “I told you before, these guys, Zavier, Jerom, Peter will be a big factor for us this conference to support our veterans.
“Of course, Zavier is very consistent, Jerom’s very consistent. Down the stretch, we needed the big shots of Paul and Mark. It’s all about the team effort,” he added.
Victolero’s remarks came on the heels of Magnolia’s gutsy 98-95 overtime victory over San Miguel Beer Wednesday last week before the pro league took a one-week break for the Lenten season.
The 6-foot-6 Lucero shone anew for the Hotshots with 24 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, while Lastimosa chimed in 21 markers and five dimes, counting a crucial kick-out feed that set up Barroca for the dagger jumper that sealed the deal for Magnolia.
Lucero, 25, a one-time UAAP champion with the University of the Philippines, was tabbed No. 5 overall by NorthPort two years ago while the 5-foot-11 Lastimosa, 26, was taken ninth in the first round by the Hotshots in last year’s Draft.
“Kita naman natin iyong bata, they can deliver in a crucial moment together with Zavier. It’s all about their mental, they’re mentally strong,” Victolero said.
“They’re coming from this kind of game in college so alam na nila how to play in a very crucial game, crucial minutes of the game.”
It’s just another day in the office for Lucero.
“I’m just grateful, you know, that I’ve been blessed with being able to contribute, scoring or whatever. It’s as long as we come out with the W, that’s the most important part,” he said. “You know, I wouldn’t be sitting here if guys didn’t make plays on the stretch to make us win.
“It’s a team sport. It’s never just one; all glory to God that I can do what I can do. Hopefully, I can continue.”
Will this roster finally propel Magnolia to the Promised Land for the first time since 2018?
